Geospatial positioning using correction information provided over cellular control channels

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method of calculating a geospatial position by a mobile device by monitoring with the mobile device a first control channel from a first cell of a cellular communications system; monitoring with the mobile device a second control channel from a second cell of the cellular communications system at the same time as the first cellular control channel; receiving with the mobile device a first correction value sent over the first control channel; receiving with the mobile device a second correction value sent over the second control channel; receiving with the mobile device a signal from a global navigation satellite system; calculating with the mobile device the geospatial position based upon the signal from the global navigation satellite system and at least one of the first correction value and the second correction value.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and dataas described below and in the drawings that form a part of thisdocument: Copyright Raven Industries, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

BACKGROUND

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) allow devices to calculatetheir geospatial position based upon signals sent from GNSS satellites.Example GNSS' include the Global Positioning System (GPS), GlobalnayaNavigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS), and Galileo. While theaccuracy of a position calculated from a typical GNSS system is adequatefor some tasks, greater accuracy is required for things like precisionnavigation applications such as machine guidance systems. Varioustechniques have been developed which utilize correction information toassist GNSS receiver devices to increase the accuracy of theirpositional calculations. One such example is Real Time Kinematics (RTK).In RTK systems, a device whose position is to be accurately determined(often called a “rover”), will utilize GNSS correction information sentfrom a nearby GNSS correction generation device (e.g., an RTK correctiongeneration device—sometimes called an RTK “base station” or an RTK“reference station”) to correct the geospatial location calculated fromthe GNSS system.

In some cases, the GNSS correction generation device is an on-site, ornearby device which wirelessly transmits the GNSS correction informationdirectly to the rover. These on-site GNSS correction generation devicesare typically expensive and must be setup prior to use. Furthermore, arover must stay within range of the wireless transmission which makes itunsuitable for precision navigation over longer distances.

In order to make GNSS correction information more accessible and easierto use, various entities have setup numerous disparate networks of GNSScorrection generation devices. These networks feature numerous GNSScorrection generation devices that transmit their corrections to acentral server (generally over the Internet). The central server thenprovides the GNSS correction information over the Internet to anyonesubscribed. Rovers may then contact the central server over the Internetto receive the GNSS correction information. Typically a rover utilizes acellular network to connect to the central server over the Internet.This solution is not always reliable and may suffer from latency issuesas the GNSS correction information has to flow from the correctiongeneration unit, across the Internet to the correction server, then backover the Internet to the cell phone provider's network, through the cellphone provider's gateway router, through the radio access network, andfinally to the rover. If any one of these components fail or delays toolong in sending the information the GNSS correction information may belost, unusable, or less reliable. Additionally, if the rover unit handsover from one cell of the cellular network to another, there may besignificant delays in the delivery of the GNSS correction information asthe dedicated resources reserved for the rover that are used to deliverthe GNSS correction information must hand over to another cell. Thistypically takes time to complete the handover (which may delay GNSScorrection information) and increases the chances of a failure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views Like numerals havingdifferent letter suffixes may represent different instances of similarcomponents. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, butnot by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the presentdocument.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a system of providing GNSS correctioninformation over control channels of a cellular network according tosome examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of a rover according to some examples of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a cellular base station with an integratedGNSS correction generation device according to some examples of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method of transmitting GNSS correctioninformation over a control channel of a wireless network according tosome examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method of transmitting GNSS correctioninformation over a control channel of a wireless network according tosome examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a method of calculating a more accurategeospatial position by using GNSS correction information transmittedover one or more control channels of a wireless network according tosome examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic of a machine according to some examples of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed in some examples are various apparatuses, machine readablemediums, systems, and methods for providing GNSS correction information(e.g., RTK correction information) to mobile devices (e.g., rovers) overthe control plane of a cellular network. Disclosed in other examples arevarious apparatuses, machine readable mediums, systems and methods forreceiving GNSS correction information over the control plane of acellular network and using that GNSS correction information to calculatea geospatial position. The cellular base station obtains GNSS correctioninformation through an integrated or nearby GNSS correction generationdevice (e.g., an RTK base station) and then transmits this GNSScorrection information on one or more control channels transmitted bythe cellular base station. The GNSS correction information can thus belocally generated and locally transmitted at the cellular base stationsite. By using GNSS correction information sent over a control channel,the rover need not establish a dedicated data connection as it must toaccess a traditional GNSS correction network. This solution may avoidcomplicated and time consuming signaling thereby increasing reliabilityand reducing latency between correction calculation and delivery (as thecorrection information has to flow through fewer network components toreach the rover). Additionally, rover units may monitor multiple controlchannels of multiple cells (in some examples the rovers may do sosimultaneously and/or continuously) where cells in a cellular networkoverlap in coverage. This can provided a number of advantages. Forexample, when a rover moves out of range of a particular cell, there canbe minimal or no interruption in the flow of GNSS correction informationas there are no dedicated resources to move to a new cell and the rovermay simply switch to using the GNSS correction information transmittedfrom other monitored cells. Also, as the rover receives GNSS correctioninformation from more than one GNSS correction generation device, therover may even more accurately determine its position relative to usingjust one set of GNSS correction information.

Utilizing the cellular networks to delivery GNSS correction informationallows for the utilization of multiple independent correction streams(e.g., correction information transmitted from more than one cell) bythe device which provides certain advantages over other alternativeapproaches. These alternative approaches may provide multiplecorrections, but over the same stream (e.g., same data link). Namely, inthe later approaches, if the single stream fails for any reason,correction data ceases. In the former approach, correction data is stillavailable from other streams (e.g., the device may switch to monitoringcorrection data from other cells that have not failed).

Example cellular networks may include cellular networks operating inaccordance with a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP or 3GPP2)family of standards, such as a Global System for Mobile communications(GSM) standard, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)standard, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, a Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA) standard, a CDMA2000 standard, a CDMA2000 Evolved DataOptimized (EV-DO) standard, and the like. These systems typically divideup the geographical area they serve into a plurality of “cells.” A cellmay be defined as a unit of geographic coverage served by a particulartransmission station or “base station.” Each base station may supportone or more cells and are typically connected to other base stations,and to a cellular core network component either directly or through acontroller (e.g., a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in UMTS). The basestations and controllers typically comprise the Radio Access Network(RAN) portion of the cellular network. The other major component of thecellular network comprises a core network which includes a group ofequipment operated by the cellular service provider which includesfunctionality for billing and access control, mobile locationregistration (e.g., tracking where in the RAN the mobile is currentlylocated so as to deliver data and voice calls to the mobile), interfacesto external networks (such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)and the Internet), and the like.

Traffic on a cellular network can be divided into user planes andcontrol planes. User traffic is generally handled and carried on theuser plane, whereas control information necessary to carry out thefunctions of the cell is carried on the control plane. The control planeis typically transmitted across “control channels.” Control channels aretransmission links in a communication system dedicated to sending and/orreceiving control messages between devices. Example control messagesinclude cell information, paging, access control (channel assignment),and broadcast messages. Example control channels from the GSM systeminclude the broadcast control channel, common control channels anddedicated control channels (including stand alone dedicated controlchannels). Example control channels from the UMTS system include:Broadcast Control Channel, Paging Control Channel, Dedicated ControlChannel, Common Control Channel, and Shared Channel Control Channel.Example logical control channels for the LTE system include: BroadcastControl Channel, Paging Control Channel, Common Control Channel,Multicast Control Channel, and Dedicated Control Channel. EV-DO systemsutilize a single control channel.

Typically cellular devices wishing to utilize resources of the cellularnetwork “attach” themselves to the cell via signaling on the controlplane. This means that the cellular devices utilize the informationcontained on the control channels to register with the cellular networkso that the cellular network can authenticate and authorize the deviceas well as update its location records so it can page the mobile ifnecessary (e.g., if a call is placed to the mobile). This process ofattachment typically takes some signaling between the mobile station andthe cellular network. Once the mobile is attached to a particular cellit generally will monitor the control channels of that cell for systeminformation about the cellular network or for any specific messagesdirected to the mobile.

If the cellular device has data or voice to transmit, the device mustreserve certain dedicated cellular network resources from the cellularnetwork. For example, air interface resources such as a time slot, achannel, an orthogonal code, data block allocation, or the like; andground based resources such as resources on the core network, orbackhaul resources to carry data between the base station and the corenetwork, or the like. The signaling to reserve these resources typicallytakes time and is subject to many points of possible failure.

If the mobile device travels outside the range of a particular cell, themobile is “handed over” to another cell. Typically this requiresadditional signaling between the mobile and the cellular network andresults in any resources which are currently reserved for the mobilebeing transferred to the new cell or the establishment of new resourcesat the new cell. The handover process is based on the mobile's periodicscans of neighboring cells (information about which is transmitted tothe mobile by the current cell) to determine a link quality between theneighbor cells and the mobile. These measurements are typically sent tothe cellular network which then makes a decision as to whether or not tohandover the mobile to a different cell based on the measurements andthe various handover algorithms in the cell. These handover algorithmsensure that the device is served by an appropriate cell. The additionalsignaling required during the handover process may take time and maylead to interruptions in the connection, as well as being subject tomany possible points of failure.

Providing GNSS correction information across cellular control channelsof a widely available cellular network is beneficial in that it deliverslocally generated and locally transmitted GNSS correction informationwith far less signaling (i.e., potentially no need to setup dedicatedresources), less latency, fewer failure points, and allows forcalculating a geospatial position of the rover with increased accuracy(if the rover utilizes the GNSS correction information from multiplecells).

Turning now to FIG. 1, an example system 1000 of providing GNSScorrection information over a cellular network is shown. GNSS satellite1010 may broadcast a signal used by various GNSS receivers (such ascorrection generation devices 1020, 1030 and rover 1070) to determinetheir geospatial positions. The signals in some examples may contain atime that the message was transmitted, precise orbital information ofthe satellite sending the message (e.g., the ephemeris), general GNSSsystem health, and rough orbits of the other satellites (e.g., thealmanac). The receivers may use the information in the message sent bythe GNSS to determine the transit time of the message. Based on thetransit time the receiver may compute the distance between the receiverand the satellite. The receiver may pinpoint its position by determiningthe distance between the receiver and multiple GNSS satellites. In otherexamples, instead of using the contents of the message to determine thedistance between the rover and the satellite, the receivers may utilizethe satellite's carrier and not the messages contained within it. Thisallows for greater accuracy as the code broadcast in a signal (for L1GPS) changes phase at 1.023 MHz, but the L1 carrier itself changes phaseat 1575.42 MHz, which allows for a much more precise determination.

In order to calculate a geospatial position using the above techniques,or to provide enhanced accuracy for the above techniques, the rover mayutilize GNSS correction information transmitted from a fixed and knownlocation (e.g., RTK correction information). For example, one type ofGNSS correction information may be used by the receivers to align thephases of the signals to enable a more accurate positional calculation.GNSS correction generation devices 1020 and 1030 may generate this GNSScorrection information. In one example, the GNSS correction generationdevice 1020 is integrated with a cellular base station 1040. In anotherexample, the GNSS correction device 1030 is separate from cell basestation 1050 and communicates GNSS correction information fortransmission over the cellular control channels over interface 1060.Interface 1060 may be any data transmission interface which is capableof supplying GNSS correction information to the cellular base station1050. Example interfaces 1060 may include Universal Serial Bus (USB)interface, parallel port interface, serial port interface, Ethernetinterface, fiber optic interfaces, wireless connections such asBluetooth, 802.11, Zigbee, or the like. Interface 1060 may be outside ofthe normal communication interfaces utilized by the base stations tocommunicate with other components of the cellular network. For example,in UMTS, the interface 1060 may be outside the IUB interface. The IUBinterface is a UMTS interface which connects a base station (Node B inUMTS) with an RNC (radio network controller). In yet other examples, theinterface 1060 may be part of, or inject messages into, the normalcommunication interfaces utilized by the base stations. For example, theinterface 1060 may connect to a component inside the base station 1050which may monitor the normal cellular interfaces (e.g., the IUB) and mayinsert the GNSS correction information into the interface (e.g., the IUBinterface) at an appropriate time. In these examples, the interface 1060may disguise the GNSS correction information such that it appears to thebase station to be coming from another part of the cellular network(e.g., RNC). This may allow the methods disclosed herein to beimplemented without modification to the source code of the base stationor other cellular network components.

Cell base stations 1040 and 1050 are any base station capable ofproviding a cell of a cellular network. Example base stations 1040 and1050 include a NodeB, an Enhanced Node B (eNB), a Base TransceiverStation (BTS), or the like. These cell base stations 1040 and 1050 maytransmit the GNSS correction information over any control channeloffered. In some examples, control channels which are broadcast out toall the mobiles in a cell may be utilized to send the GNSS correctioninformation (e.g., a broadcast control channel such as the BCCH). Inthese examples, a rover may not need to attach to any cells in order toreceive the correction information as the correction information isbroadcast to all mobiles capable of receiving the broadcast channel. Inother examples, the GNSS correction information may be placed on acontrol channel which may be directed at only particular mobiles. Forexample, the GNSS correction information may be sent on a stand-alonededicated control channel (SDCCH) of a GSM network. To receive GNSScorrection information directed only at particular mobiles, the rovermay have to attach to the cell which transmits these directed messages.In some examples, to achieve this, the rover may attach to multiplecells simultaneously as described below. While attaching to a cellrequires some signaling effort, the signaling required to attach to acell is still much less than that required to setup a dedicatedconnection.

The GNSS correction data transmitted by the cellular base stations mayin some examples conform to the Radio Technical Commission for MarineServices (RTCM) 10403.1 “Differential GNSS Services—Version 3, withAmendments 1-5 published Jul. 1, 2011, incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

Rover 1070 may be any device capable of calculating a geospatialposition based upon the received satellite signals from a GNSS device1010 and receive and decode the GNSS correction information generatedand sent by the GNSS correction generation devices 1020 or 1030 over thecontrol plane of one or more cells provided by cellular base stations(such as base stations 1040 or 1050). Rover 1070 may simultaneouslymonitor the control channels of multiple cells to receive multiple GNSScorrection information. In some examples, the rover 1070 may attach tomultiple cells at the same time to receive the GNSS correctioninformation (e.g., the GNSS correction information may be sent on acontrol channel that is directed at a specific mobile device or a groupof mobile devices), or may attach to one cell (e.g., to perform otherfunctions) and simultaneously and continuously monitor the controlchannels of other cells, or may not attach to any cell at all andinstead simply monitor the broadcast control channels of various nearbycells (if the control channels utilized to send the GNSS correctioninformation are broadcast control channels). The latter particularexample would eliminate the need for signaling between the rover deviceand the cellular network altogether.

In some examples, the base stations 1050 and 1040 may be synchronizedand may send out the GNSS correction information at the same or near thesame time. In these examples, the rover may be able to save power byonly activating its receivers at or near the expected time GNSScorrection information is scheduled for transmission. The remainingtimes the receivers may be in a sleep mode. In other examples, the GNSScorrection information transmissions may be coordinated across multiplebase stations (e.g., by a higher layer component in the cellular networksuch as an RNC) so that one base station transmits the GNSS correctioninformation at a first time period and the second base station transmitsthe GNSS correction information at a second time period which isdifferent from the first. Thus base stations in a particulargeographical area may stagger their GNSS correction informationtransmissions to allow a rover the ability continuously receivecorrection information from a number of cellular sites with only onecellular module.

An example of a rover 1070 is shown in FIG. 2. Unlike traditional cellphones which attach onto one cell and periodically scan nearby cells (totake measurements for handover purposes), rover 1070 may contain anynumber of cellular modules 2010 which may communicate with severalneighboring cells simultaneously and/or continuously. For example, rover1070 may contain one, two, or more cellular modules 2010. A cellularmodule 2010 includes any functionality (hardware and software) to enablethe Rover 1070 to send and/or receive information across a cellularwireless network including one or more cellular receivers. The multiplecellular modules 2010 may be configured in a number of ways. Forexample, the Rover 1070 may utilize the multiple cellular modules 2010to receive GNSS correction information from multiple cellssimultaneously by attaching to each cell. In another configuration, theRover 1070 may utilize the various cellular modules 2010 to attach to asingle cell with a first cellular module 2010 (and monitor the controlchannels for GNSS correction information) and simultaneously (and/orcontinuously) monitor the control channels of other neighboring cellsfor GNSS correction information with other cellular modules 2010. In yetanother configuration, the Rover 1070 may not attach to any cells,instead monitoring the control channels of multiple cells simultaneouslyand continuously using one or more cellular modules 2010 (this may bepossible if the GNSS correction information is transmitted over abroadcast control channel—i.e., the rover does not need to attach to aparticular cell to receive a broadcast channel).

The rover 1070 may have a configuration preset, or have settingsassociated with a user interface for selecting a desired configuration.In other examples, the rover 1070 may automatically select a particularconfiguration based upon the configuration of the network in which it ismonitoring or attached to. For example, a particular carrier may setuptheir network so that the GNSS correction information is transmittedover a broadcast control channel. In this case, the rover mayautomatically select the configuration in which it does not attach toany cell. In yet other examples, the carrier may transmit the GNSScorrection information over dedicated control channels. In theseexamples, the rover may automatically select a configuration requiringthat the cellular modules 2010 each attach to a different cell. Therover may determine the network configuration of the network byutilizing a predefined list of networks which may include information onwhen and how GNSS correction information is transmitted in the network(e.g., which cells transmit GNSS correction information at which times).This information may be pre-programmed and stored on the rover, or maybe downloaded periodically by the rover from a server. In otherexamples, the network characteristics as it relates to GNSS correctioninformation may be determined based upon system information broadcast ona control channel. In still other examples, the network's configurationmay be determined by the rover automatically by monitoring the network'scells for a GNSS correction signal. The rover may monitor the cell andvarious neighboring cells to determine if the GNSS correctioninformation is transmitted on a broadcast control channel or if it istransmitted for particular rovers.

It is also contemplated that a network may be setup such that some cellsmay broadcast the GNSS correction information while other cells of thenetwork direct the GNSS correction information on control channelsspecific to a group of one or more rovers. In these configurations, someof the cellular modules 2010 may attach to the cells which direct theGNSS correction information to a particular rover, while the remainingcellular modules 2010 may monitor the control channels of cells whichbroadcast the GNSS correction information without attaching to the cell.

While the various cellular modules 2010 may be for the same type ofnetwork, for even better coverage, the various cellular modules 2010 mayeven work with different types of networks. For example, a firstcellular module 2010 may be a GSM receiver, whereas a second cellularmodule 2010 may be a CDMA2000 receiver.

The rover configuration described herein may be compared to traditionalmobiles which attach to one cell and periodically scan neighboringcells. Traditional mobiles may be unsuitable for GNSS correctioninformation as the rover 1070 may miss the GNSS correction informationbeing transmitted while it is scanning another cell. Thus simultaneousmonitoring of multiple cells allows the rover 1070 to avoid missing anyGNSS correction information. However, in examples in which the cellularnetwork staggers the transmission of the GNSS correction information,the rover 1070 may have a single cellular module 2010 which schedulesits scan of the neighboring devices based upon an expected transmissiontime of GNSS correction information on those cells. In these examples,the rover may tune to a first cell and receive GNSS correctioninformation, switch to another cell and receive GNSS correctioninformation and the like. To accomplish this, the rover must know theproper timing of the GNSS correction information from each cell. Therover may determine this in many ways. For example, the timing of theGNSS messages of nearby cells may be broadcast by each cell, the timingmay be fixed and known in advance or downloaded by the rover, the timingmay be determined based upon a cell id number (e.g., the cell id numbermay be input into an algorithm that determines a time in which the GNSSmessage is transmitted), or the timing may be learned based upon pastobservations of the timing of GNSS messages.

The cellular network may impose certain restrictions on allowing roversto attach to multiple cells simultaneously. For example, certaincellular networks may prevent the same mobile identifier (e.g., anInternational Mobile Subscriber Identity or IMSI) from attaching tomultiple cells. In order to work around this, multiple IMSIs may beprovided to the rover through the provisioning of multiple SubscriberIdentity Modules (SIM) or other access cards to the rover. In otherexamples modifications to the core network of the cellular network maybe utilized to allow for one mobile device to be registered withmultiple cells. In these examples, certain mobile identification numbers(e.g., IMSIs) may be designated as rover units which may indicate to thecore network to allow the rover to attach on multiple cells using thesame identification. Thus, certain identification numbers may conveycertain additional privileges with respect to the cellular networks.

Aside from increased geospatial accuracy, another benefit to usingmultiple cellular modules 2010 is that since the rover 1070 is attachedto multiple cells, or at least monitoring the GNSS correctioninformation on multiple cells simultaneously and continuously, there maybe minimal or no interruption in GNSS correction informationavailability during a handover.

Returning to FIG. 2, the cellular modules (1-n) 2010 of the rover 1070feed GNSS correction information received from these cells to a positioncalculation module 2020. Position calculation module 2020 uses thesecorrection values along with the signal received by the GNSS module 2030to calculate the geospatial position of the rover 1070.

The position calculation module may utilize a number of differentalgorithms with respect to the GNSS correction information. In oneexample, the position calculation module may utilize only the GNSScorrection information received from one cell. The cell whose GNSScorrection information is used may be selected based upon variousselection algorithms. One selection algorithm utilizes the GNSScorrection information provided by the base station which is closest tothe rover. This data may be preferred as it will likely represent themost accurate GNSS correction information because it will most closelyaccount for the atmospheric and other conditions experienced by therover which might cause error in the GNSS signal. The location of thecell base station may be explicitly determined by base stationcoordinate information sent along with the GNSS correction information(which may be compared with a coarse calculation of the rover's positiondetermined from the GNSS signal alone), or may be determined implicitlybased upon the quality of the received signal containing the GNSScorrection information.

In still other examples, the GNSS correction information transmitted bymultiple cellular base stations may be utilized in the geospatialposition calculation. In some examples, all the received GNSS correctioninformation may be utilized. In other examples, some GNSS correctioninformation may be utilized and yet other GNSS correction informationmay not be utilized. In cases in which not all the GNSS correctioninformation is utilized, the selection of which GNSS information forinclusion in the position calculations may be determined based on anumber of factors including: calculated or perceived distance betweenthe rover and the base station providing the GNSS correctioninformation, a perceived validity of the GNSS correction information(e.g., the rover may determine that the correction data is not valid, ornot likely valid), or the like.

Once the proper GNSS correction information to use is determined, thecorrection value may be calculated. In some examples, the GNSScorrection information from multiple base stations may be averagedtogether to form a composite correction value which is then used tocalculate a geospatial position. In still other examples, a roughpositioning of the rover may be utilized along with the locations (or alocation estimated through a received signal strength and/or quality) ofthe base stations from which the GNSS correction information which areto be used were received to interpolate a likely correction value forthe rover. This likely correction value may then be used to calculate ageospatial position. In additional examples the various GNSS correctioninformation may be weighted, where the weights may be determined basedupon an explicit or implicit determination of the proximity of the basestation which sent the data (e.g., GNSS correction information fromcloser base stations may be more heavily weighted than GNSS correctioninformation from further base stations). These weighted correctionvalues may then be used to calculate a geospatial position.

As already noted, the GNSS correction generation device may beintegrated with the cellular base station, or may be external to it, ator near the base station site. FIG. 3 shows an example integrated GNSScorrection generator and cellular base station 3010. Base station 3010may include a control module 3020 which may handle both user planeportions of the base station (i.e. user data and traffic) through theuser plane module 3040 and control plane portions of the base station(i.e., control messages and signaling including control channels)through control plane module 3030. The control module 3020 isresponsible for determining the data sent over transceiver 3070 and forprocessing signals sent by other devices to the base station received bythe transceiver 3070. Transceiver 3070 handles the transmission andreception of the cellular communications signals over the air interfaceas well as the transmission and reception of signals between the basestation 3010 and higher level entities (e.g., an RNC). In some examples,the base station 3010 may contain multiple transceivers. Power amplifier3050 may amplify the signal generated by the transceiver 3070 fortransmission. Combiner 3060 may combine signals from multipletransceivers 3070 for transmission on a single antenna. Duplexer 3080separates signals sent from the base station and received from mobilestations so that a single antenna may be used for both transmission andreception. The baseband receiver unit 3100 may control frequencyhopping, digital signal processing, and the like.

GNSS correction generation module 3090 receives a GNSS signal andcalculates a correction value to supply to the control module 3020 (insome examples, the control plane module 3030) for broadcast over thecontrol channels of the cellular network.

While FIG. 3 included the GNSS correction generation module 3090 asintegrated with the base station 3010, the GNSS correction generationmodule 3090 may be external to the base station 3010 and may supply theGNSS correction information through a data interface to the controlmodule 3020.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a method 4000 of supplying GNSS correctioninformation over cellular control channels using an external GNSScorrection unit is shown. At operation 4010 the base station receivesGNSS correction information from an GNSS correction generation unitthrough an external interface. In some examples, the GNSS correctioninformation may be sent with a predetermined periodicity which is timedto coincide with the appropriate time at which the GNSS correctioninformation is to be sent over the control channel of the cell. In thisexample, the cellular base station need only to receive the data, andthen transmit the data. In other examples, the cellular base station maybuffer the GNSS correction information until the appropriatetransmission time. At the appropriate transmission time, the cellularbase station may transmit the GNSS correction information on theappropriately chosen control channel at operation 4020. The appropriatetime may be selected based upon the underlying wireless network type andthe particular availability of space to transmit additional informationon the selected control channel(s). If the appropriate control channelis a control channel transmitted to particular rover units, the basestation may determine if any rover is currently attached and listeningto the control channels of the cell (e.g., through a maintained list),and page these mobiles or otherwise make the mobiles aware of thededicated control channel which will contain the GNSS correctioninformation.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a method 5000 of supplying GNSS correctioninformation over cellular control channels using an integrated GNSScorrection unit is shown. At operation 5010, the cellular base stationcalculates the appropriate GNSS correction information internally. Atoperation 5020 the cellular base station transmits the GNSS correctioninformation at the appropriate time on the appropriate channel.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a method 6000 of calculating a geospatialposition based upon GNSS correction information supplied over a cellularcontrol channel is shown. At operation 6010 a rover device may monitorone or more control channels of one or more cells simultaneously. Atoperation 6020, the rover may receive GNSS correction information fromone or more of the control channels of the monitored cells. At operation6030, the rover may receive a GNSS signal. At operation 6040 the rovermay calculate its position based upon the GNSS signal and the GNSScorrection information received from the cellular base station. Theparticular way in which the GNSS correction information is utilized inthe geospatial positioning determination was previously described.

The specification describes a geospatial position. In some examples, ageospatial position may be comprised of a three dimensional position ofan object relative to the surface of the earth. For example, theposition may be a latitude, longitude, and altitude of an objectrelative to the earth's surface.

In some other examples, the rover 1070 may receive other positioningrelated signals and utilize those signals in its position calculations.For example, networks of ground-based GNSS like transmitters which aretime synchronized and which operate on the Industrial, Scientific, andMedical unlicensed frequency spectrum have been utilized which broadcastsignals very similar to GNSS signals. These GNSS replacement signalsenable devices to position themselves using these signals, GNSS signals,or a combination. Examples of these systems include those developed byLOCATA Corporation of Australia. In these examples, the rover 1070 mayutilize one or more GNSS replacement signals in addition to, or as asubstitution for, a GNSS signal in the position calculation.

Additionally, in lieu of or in addition to transmission of GNSScorrection information over the control plane, the base stations maytransmit GNSS substitute signals (e.g., LOCATA® type signals) for use byrovers 1070. Rovers 1070 may then use these signals to calculate theirposition. This may allow for a wide distribution of GNSS-substitutetransmission stations using existing wireless infrastructure and allowfor a lower cost alternative than the deployment of special stationswhich broadcast the GNSS-substitute transmissions.

Additionally, in some examples, the rover may employ additionalgeospatial location determination methods. For example the rover mayinclude inertial navigation functionality which may enable the rover tonavigate using dead-reckoning methods. The rover may include one or moremotion sensors (e.g., accelerometers), rotation sensors (gyroscopes) orother sensors to measure movement of the rover such that the rover maycalculate its position based upon a detected change since its last knownposition (e.g., as calculated using geospatial methods (e.g., RTK)).Another example geospatial location determination method that may beemployed by the rover may include to the ability to calculate itsposition by estimating the distance between several base stations usingvarious characteristics of the received cellular signal (e.g., receivedsignal strength, signal quality, or the like). Based on these distancesthe rover may be able to triangulate its position. These alternativemethods may be used to supplement the position calculated by any of themethods disclosed herein. Thus, for example, if the rover is unable tocommunicate with the geospatial satellite, the rover may use GNSSreplacement signals, inertial navigation, positioning based on receivedcellular signals, or any combination. In some examples, the positionscalculated by these other methods may be used when calculating the GNSScorrections. For example, the inertial or cellular based positioningmethods may be used to determine if there is an error in the positioncalculated using the GNSS system, or may be used to select theappropriate GNSS correction data to use (e.g., determining the distancesto the base stations), or in weighting the various sets of GNSScorrection data, or the like.

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules or components mayconstitute either software modules (e.g., code embodied (1) on anon-transitory machine-readable medium or (2) in a transmission signal)or hardware-implemented modules. A hardware-implemented module istangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain manner. In example embodiments, oneor more computer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computersystem) or one or more processors may be configured by software (e.g.,an application or application portion) as a hardware-implemented modulethat operates to perform certain operations as described herein.

In various embodiments, a hardware-implemented module may be implementedmechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware-implementedmodule may comprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanentlyconfigured (e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC) or microprocessor) to perform certain operations. Ahardware-implemented module may also comprise programmable logic orcircuitry (e.g., as encompassed within a general-purpose processor orother programmable processor) that is temporarily configured by softwareto perform certain operations. It will be appreciated that the decisionto implement a hardware-implemented module mechanically, in dedicatedand permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configuredcircuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and timeconsiderations.

Accordingly, the term “hardware-implemented module” should be understoodto encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) or temporarily ortransitorily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certainmanner and/or to perform certain operations described herein.Considering embodiments in which hardware-implemented modules aretemporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of thehardware-implemented modules need not be configured or instantiated atany one instance in time. For example, where the hardware-implementedmodules comprise a general-purpose processor configured using software,the general-purpose processor may be configured as respective differenthardware-implemented modules at different times. Software mayaccordingly configure a processor, for example, to constitute aparticular hardware-implemented module at one instance of time and toconstitute a different hardware-implemented module at a differentinstance of time.

Hardware-implemented modules may provide information to, and receiveinformation from, other hardware-implemented modules. Accordingly, thedescribed hardware-implemented modules may be regarded as beingcommunicatively coupled. Where multiple of such hardware-implementedmodules exist contemporaneously, communications may be achieved throughsignal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses) thatconnect the hardware-implemented modules. In embodiments in whichmultiple hardware-implemented modules are configured or instantiated atdifferent times, communications between such hardware-implementedmodules may be achieved, for example, through the storage and retrievalof information in memory structures to which the multiplehardware-implemented modules have access. For example, onehardware-implemented module may perform an operation, and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware-implemented module may then,at a later time, access the memory device to retrieve and process thestored output. Hardware-implemented modules may also initiatecommunications with input or output devices, and may operate on aresource (e.g., a collection of information).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions. The modulesreferred to herein may, in some example embodiments, compriseprocessor-implemented modules.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented. For example, at least some of the operations of amethod may be performed by one or processors or processor-implementedmodules. The performance of certain of the operations may be distributedamong the one or more processors, not only residing within a singlemachine, but deployed across a number of machines. In some exampleembodiments, the processor or processors may be located in a singlelocation (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment or as aserver farm), while in other embodiments the processors may bedistributed across a number of locations.

The one or more processors may also operate to support performance ofthe relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a“software as a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of theoperations may be performed by a group of computers (as examples ofmachines including processors), these operations being accessible via anetwork (e.g., the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces(e.g., Application Program Interfaces (APIs).) Example embodiments maybe implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware,firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Example embodiments maybe implemented using a computer program product, e.g., a computerprogram tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in amachine-readable medium for execution by, or to control the operationof, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, acomputer, or multiple computers.

A computer program may be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, and it may be deployed inany form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, subroutine,or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computerprogram may be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiplecomputers at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

In example embodiments, operations may be performed by one or moreprogrammable processors executing a computer program to performfunctions by operating on input data and generating output. Methodoperations may also be performed by, and apparatus of exampleembodiments may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry,e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC). The computing system may include clients andservers. A client and server are generally remote from each other andtypically interact through a communication network. The relationship ofclient and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on therespective computers and having a client-server relationship to eachother. In embodiments deploying a programmable computing system, it willbe appreciated that that both hardware and software architecturesrequire consideration. Specifically, it will be appreciated that thechoice of whether to implement certain functionality in permanentlyconfigured hardware (e.g., an ASIC), in temporarily configured hardware(e.g., a combination of software and a programmable processor), or acombination of permanently and temporarily configured hardware may be adesign choice. Below are set out hardware (e.g., machine) and softwarearchitectures that may be deployed, in various example embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exampleform of a computer system 7000 within which a set of instructions forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods,processes, operations, or methodologies discussed herein may beexecuted. In some examples, the mobile device (e.g., the rover) and/orthe network components (e.g., base station, core network, etc. . . . )may be or contain portions of the computer system 7000. In alternativeembodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may beconnected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in server-client network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Themachine may be a Personal Computer (PC), a tablet PC, a Set-Top Box(STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a Webappliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a singlemachine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken toinclude any collection of machines that individually or jointly executea set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more ofthe methodologies discussed herein. Example embodiments may also bepracticed in distributed system environments where local and remotecomputer systems which that are linked (e.g., either by hardwired,wireless, or a combination of hardwired and wireless connections)through a network, both perform tasks. In a distributed systemenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotememory-storage devices (see below).

The example computer system 7000 includes a processor 7002 (e.g., aCentral Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) orboth), a main memory 7001 and a static memory 7006, which communicatewith each other via a bus 7008. The computer system 7000 may furtherinclude a video display unit 7010 (e.g., a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)or a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)). The computer system 7000 also includes analphanumeric input device 7012 (e.g., a keyboard), a User Interface (UI)cursor controller 7014 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 7016, a signalgeneration device 7018 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device7020 (e.g., a transmitter).

The disk drive unit 7016 includes a machine-readable medium 7022 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions 7024 and datastructures (e.g., software) embodying or used by any one or more of themethodologies or functions illustrated herein. The software may alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 7001and/or within the processor 7002 during execution thereof by thecomputer system 7000, the main memory 7001 and the processor 7002 alsoconstituting machine-readable media.

The instructions 7024 may further be transmitted or received over anetwork 7026 via the network interface device 7020 using any one of anumber of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP, Session InitiationProtocol (SIP)). The network interface device 7020 may be any deviceused to access a network 7026 including an Ethernet card, a wirelesscard for accessing a wireless network (e.g., an 802.11 card, a cellularcard for accessing a cellular network such as a Long Term Evolutionnetwork or a UMTS network, or the like), a token ring card, or the like.Machine 7000 may also include a GNSS receiver 7046 for receiving GNSSsignals from a GNSS satellite.

The term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken toinclude any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying aset of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause themachine to perform any of the one or more of the methodologiesillustrated herein. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, andoptical and magnetic medium.

Method embodiments illustrated herein may be computer-implemented. Someembodiments may include computer-readable media encoded with a computerprogram (e.g., software), which includes instructions operable to causean electronic device to perform methods of various embodiments. Asoftware implementation (or computer-implemented method) may includemicrocode, assembly language code, or a higher-level language code,which further may include computer readable instructions for performingvarious methods. The code may form portions of computer programproducts. Further, the code may be tangibly stored on one or morevolatile or non-volatile computer-readable media during execution or atother times. These computer-readable media may include, but are notlimited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable opticaldisks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes,memory cards or sticks, Random Access Memories (RAMs), Read OnlyMemories (ROMs), and the like.

These examples can be combined in any permutation or combination. Thisoverview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of thepresent patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusiveor exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description isincluded to provide further information about the present patentapplication.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. These embodiments are also referred toherein as “examples.” Such examples may include elements in addition tothose shown or described. However, the present inventors alsocontemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described areprovided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examplesusing any combination or permutation of those elements shown ordescribed (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to aparticular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect toother examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or describedherein.

All publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in thisdocument are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, asthough individually incorporated by reference. In the event ofinconsistent usages between this document and those documents soincorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s)should be considered supplementary to that of this document; forirreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In thisdocument, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that“A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unlessotherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “inwhich” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms“including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device,article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listedafter such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scopeof that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,”“second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are notintended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

Method examples described herein may be machine or computer-implementedat least in part. Some examples may include a computer-readable mediumor machine-readable medium encoded with instructions operable toconfigure an electronic device to perform methods as described in theabove examples. An implementation of such methods may include code, suchas microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language code, orthe like. Such code may include computer readable instructions forperforming various methods. The code may form portions of computerprogram products. Further, in an example, the code may be tangiblystored on one or more volatile, non-transitory, or non-volatile tangiblecomputer-readable media, such as during execution or at other times.Examples of these tangible computer-readable media may include, but arenot limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable opticaldisks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes,memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read onlymemories (ROMs), and the like.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments may be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow thereader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. Itis submitted with the understanding that it will not be used tointerpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be groupedtogether to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted asintending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim.Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of aparticular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that suchembodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations orpermutations. The scope of the invention should be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Other Examples Example 1

A method of receiving geospatial positioning information, the methodcomprising: monitoring with a mobile device a first control channel froma first cell of a cellular communications system; monitoring with themobile device a second control channel from a second cell of thecellular communications system at the same time as the first cellularcontrol channel; receiving with the mobile device a first correctionvalue sent over the first control channel; receiving with the mobiledevice a second correction value sent over the second control channel;receiving with the mobile device a signal from a global navigationsatellite system; calculating with the mobile device the geospatialposition based upon the signal from the global navigation satellitesystem and at least one of the first correction value and the secondcorrection value.

Example 2

The method of example 1, wherein the first and second control channelsare broadcast control channels.

Example 3

The method of any one of examples 1-2, wherein the cellularcommunications system is a cellular communications system operating inaccordance with one of: a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS) standard, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)standard, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, a Evolution-DataOptimized (EV-DO) standard, and a Code Division Multiple Access 2000(CDMA2000) standard;

Example 4

The method of any one of examples 1-3, wherein the first correctionvalue is transmitted by a first base station and the second correctionvalue is transmitted by a second base station and the method comprisesselecting the first correction value to use in calculating thegeospatial position based upon a determination that the first basestation is closer in proximity to the mobile device than the second basestation.

Example 5

The method of example 4, wherein the determination that the first basestation is closer in proximity is based upon a comparison of a receivedsignal quality of a signal transmitted by the first base station and areceived signal quality of a signal transmitted by the second basestation.

Example 6

The method of example 4, wherein the determination that the first basestation is closer in proximity to the mobile device is based upon adetermination that a distance between the mobile device and the firstbase station is less than a distance between the mobile device and thesecond base station, the distances being calculated based upon ageospatial position of the first and second base stations and acalculation of a geospatial position of the rover based upon only thesignal from the global navigation satellite system.

Example 7

The method of any one of examples 1-3, wherein the geospatial positionis calculated based upon both the first and second correction values.

Example 8

The method of example 7, wherein the geospatial position is calculatedby weighting the first correction value by a first weighting value andthe second correction value by a second weighting value.

Example 9

The method of any one of examples 1-8, wherein the correction value is areal time kinematic correction value.

Example 10

The method of any one of examples 1-9, wherein receiving the first andsecond correction values includes receiving the values withoutestablishing a dedicated data connection with the first or second cell.

Example 11

A mobile device for receiving a geospatial position, the mobile devicecomprising: a first cellular module configured to monitor a firstcontrol channel from a first cell of a cellular communications systemand to receive a first correction value over the first control channel;a second cellular module configured to monitor a second control channelfrom a second cell of the cellular communications system at the sametime as the first cellular control channel and to receive a secondcorrection value sent over the second control channel; a globalnavigation satellite system module configured to receive a signal from aglobal navigation satellite system; and a position calculation moduleconfigured to calculate the geospatial position based upon the signalfrom the global navigation satellite system and at least one of thefirst correction value and the second correction value.

Example 12

The mobile device of example 11, wherein the first and second controlchannels are broadcast control channels.

Example 13

The mobile device of any one of examples 11-12, wherein the cellularcommunications system is a cellular communications system operating inaccordance with one of: a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS) standard, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)standard, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, a Evolution-DataOptimized (EV-DO) standard, and a Code Division Multiple Access 2000(CDMA2000) standard;

Example 14

The mobile device of any one of examples 11-13, wherein the firstcorrection value is transmitted by a first base station and the secondcorrection value is transmitted by a second base station and theposition calculation module is configured to select the first correctionvalue to use in calculating the geospatial position based upon adetermination that the first base station is closer in proximity to themobile device than the second base station.

Example 15

The mobile device of example 14, wherein the position calculation moduleis configured to determine that the first base station is closer inproximity based upon a comparison of a received signal quality of asignal transmitted by the first base station and a received signalquality of a signal transmitted by the second base station.

Example 16

The mobile device of example 14, wherein the position calculation moduleis configured to determine that the first base station is closer inproximity to the mobile device than the second base station based upon adetermination that a distance between the mobile device and the firstbase station is less than a distance between the mobile device and thesecond base station, the distances being calculated based upon ageospatial position of the first and second base stations and acalculation of a geospatial position of the rover based upon only thesignal from the global navigation satellite system.

Example 17

The mobile device of any one of examples 11-13, wherein positioncalculation module is configured to calculate the geospatial positionbased upon both the first and second correction values.

Example 18

The mobile device of example 17, wherein position calculation module isconfigured to calculate the geospatial position by weighting the firstcorrection value by a first weighting value and the second correctionvalue by a second weighting value.

Example 19

The mobile device of any one of examples 11-18, wherein the correctionvalue is a real time kinematic correction value.

Example 20

The mobile device of any one of examples 11-19, wherein receiving thefirst and second correction values includes receiving the values withoutestablishing a dedicated data connection with the first or second cell.

Example 21

A machine-readable medium that stores instructions which when performedby a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:monitoring with a mobile device a first control channel from a firstcell of a cellular communications system; monitoring with the mobiledevice a second control channel from a second cell of the cellularcommunications system at the same time as the first cellular controlchannel; receiving with the mobile device a first correction value sentover the first control channel; receiving with the mobile device asecond correction value sent over the second control channel; receivingwith the mobile device a signal from a global navigation satellitesystem; calculating with the mobile device a geospatial position of themobile device based upon the signal from the global navigation satellitesystem and at least one of the first correction value and the secondcorrection value.

Example 22

The machine-readable medium of example 21, wherein the first and secondcontrol channels are broadcast control channels.

Example 23

The machine-readable medium of any one of claims 21-22, wherein thecellular communications system is a cellular communications systemoperating in accordance with one of: a Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) standard, a Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM) standard, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, aEvolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) standard, and a Code Division MultipleAccess 2000 (CDMA2000) standard;

Example 24

The machine-readable medium of any one of claims 21-24, wherein thefirst correction value is transmitted by a first base station and thesecond correction value is transmitted by a second base station and theinstructions include instructions which when performed by the machine,cause the machine to perform the operations comprising: selecting thefirst correction value to use in calculating the geospatial positionbased upon a determination that the first base station is closer inproximity to the mobile device than the second base station.

Example 25

The machine-readable medium of example 24, wherein the instructionsinclude instructions which when performed by the machine, cause themachine to perform the operations comprising: determining that the firstbase station is closer in proximity based upon a comparison of areceived signal quality of a signal transmitted by the first basestation and a received signal quality of a signal transmitted by thesecond base station.

Example 26

The machine-readable medium of example 24, wherein the instructionsinclude instructions which when performed by the machine, cause themachine to perform the operations comprising: determining that the firstbase station is closer in proximity to the mobile device than the secondbase station based upon a determination that a distance between themobile device and the first base station is less than a distance betweenthe mobile device and the second base station, the distances beingcalculated based upon a geospatial position of the first and second basestations and a calculation of a geo spatial position of the rover basedupon only the signal from the global navigation satellite system.

Example 27

The machine-readable medium of any one of examples 21-23, wherein theinstructions include instructions which when performed by the machine,cause the machine to perform the operations comprising: calculating thegeospatial position based upon both the first and second correctionvalues.

Example 28

The machine-readable medium of example 27, wherein the instructionsinclude instructions which when performed by the machine, cause themachine to perform the operations comprising: calculating the geospatialposition by weighting the first correction value by a first weightingvalue and the second correction value by a second weighting value.

Example 29

The machine-readable medium of any one of examples 21-28, wherein thecorrection value is a real time kinematic correction value.

Example 30

The machine-readable medium of any one of examples 21-29, wherein theinstructions include instructions which when performed by the machine,cause the machine to perform the operations comprising: receiving thefirst and second correction values without establishing a dedicated dataconnection with the first or second cell.

The claimed invention is:
 1. A method of receiving geospatialpositioning information, the method comprising: monitoring with a mobiledevice a first control channel from a first cell of a cellularcommunications system; monitoring with the mobile device a secondcontrol channel from a second cell of the cellular communications systemat the same time as the first cellular control channel; receiving withthe mobile device a first correction value sent over the first controlchannel; receiving with the mobile device a second correction value sentover the second control channel; receiving with the mobile device asignal from a global navigation satellite system; calculating with themobile device the geospatial position based upon the signal from theglobal navigation satellite system and at least one of the firstcorrection value and the second correction value.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the first and second control channels are broadcast controlchannels.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular communicationssystem is a cellular communications system operating in accordance withone of: a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard, aGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, a Long TermEvolution (LTE) standard, a Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) standard,and a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) standard;
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first correction value is transmitted bya first base station and the second correction value is transmitted by asecond base station and the method comprises selecting the firstcorrection value to use in calculating the geospatial position basedupon a determination that the first base station is closer in proximityto the mobile device than the second base station.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the determination that the first base station is closerin proximity is based upon a comparison of a received signal quality ofa signal transmitted by the first base station and a received signalquality of a signal transmitted by the second base station.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the determination that the first base stationis closer in proximity to the mobile device is based upon adetermination that a distance between the mobile device and the firstbase station is less than a distance between the mobile device and thesecond base station, the distances being calculated based upon ageospatial position of the first and second base stations and acalculation of a geospatial position of the rover based upon only thesignal from the global navigation satellite system.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the geospatial position is calculated based upon boththe first and second correction values.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the geospatial position is calculated by weighting the firstcorrection value by a first weighting value and the second correctionvalue by a second weighting value.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein thecorrection value is a real time kinematic correction value.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein receiving the first and second correctionvalues includes receiving the values without establishing a dedicateddata connection with the first or second cell.
 11. A mobile device forreceiving a geospatial position, the mobile device comprising: a firstcellular module configured to monitor a first control channel from afirst cell of a cellular communications system and to receive a firstcorrection value over the first control channel; a second cellularmodule configured to monitor a second control channel from a second cellof the cellular communications system at the same time as the firstcellular control channel and to receive a second correction value sentover the second control channel; a global navigation satellite systemmodule configured to receive a signal from a global navigation satellitesystem; and a position calculation module configured to calculate thegeospatial position based upon the signal from the global navigationsatellite system and at least one of the first correction value and thesecond correction value.
 12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein thefirst and second control channels are broadcast control channels. 13.The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the cellular communicationssystem is a cellular communications system operating in accordance withone of: a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard, aGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, a Long TermEvolution (LTE) standard, a Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) standard,and a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) standard;
 14. Themobile device of claim 11, wherein the first correction value istransmitted by a first base station and the second correction value istransmitted by a second base station and the position calculation moduleis configured to select the first correction value to use in calculatingthe geospatial position based upon a determination that the first basestation is closer in proximity to the mobile device than the second basestation.
 15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the positioncalculation module is configured to determine that the first basestation is closer in proximity based upon a comparison of a receivedsignal quality of a signal transmitted by the first base station and areceived signal quality of a signal transmitted by the second basestation.
 16. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the positioncalculation module is configured to determine that the first basestation is closer in proximity to the mobile device than the second basestation based upon a determination that a distance between the mobiledevice and the first base station is less than a distance between themobile device and the second base station, the distances beingcalculated based upon a geospatial position of the first and second basestations and a calculation of a geospatial position of the rover basedupon only the signal from the global navigation satellite system. 17.The mobile device of claim 11, wherein position calculation module isconfigured to calculate the geospatial position based upon both thefirst and second correction values.
 18. The mobile device of claim 17,wherein position calculation module is configured to calculate thegeospatial position by weighting the first correction value by a firstweighting value and the second correction value by a second weightingvalue.
 19. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the correction valueis a real time kinematic correction value.
 20. The mobile device ofclaim 11, wherein receiving the first and second correction valuesincludes receiving the values without establishing a dedicated dataconnection with the first or second cell.
 21. A machine-readable mediumthat stores instructions which when performed by a machine, cause themachine to perform operations comprising: monitoring with a mobiledevice a first control channel from a first cell of a cellularcommunications system; monitoring with the mobile device a secondcontrol channel from a second cell of the cellular communications systemat the same time as the first cellular control channel; receiving withthe mobile device a first correction value sent over the first controlchannel; receiving with the mobile device a second correction value sentover the second control channel; receiving with the mobile device asignal from a global navigation satellite system; calculating with themobile device a geospatial position of the mobile device based upon thesignal from the global navigation satellite system and at least one ofthe first correction value and the second correction value.
 22. Themachine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first and secondcontrol channels are broadcast control channels.
 23. Themachine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the cellular communicationssystem is a cellular communications system operating in accordance withone of: a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard, aGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, a Long TermEvolution (LTE) standard, a Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) standard,and a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) standard;
 24. Themachine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first correction valueis transmitted by a first base station and the second correction valueis transmitted by a second base station and the instructions includeinstructions which when performed by the machine, cause the machine toperform the operations comprising: selecting the first correction valueto use in calculating the geospatial position based upon a determinationthat the first base station is closer in proximity to the mobile devicethan the second base station.
 25. The machine-readable medium of claim24, wherein the instructions include instructions which when performedby the machine, cause the machine to perform the operations comprising:determining that the first base station is closer in proximity basedupon a comparison of a received signal quality of a signal transmittedby the first base station and a received signal quality of a signaltransmitted by the second base station.
 26. The machine-readable mediumof claim 24, wherein the instructions include instructions which whenperformed by the machine, cause the machine to perform the operationscomprising: determining that the first base station is closer inproximity to the mobile device than the second base station based upon adetermination that a distance between the mobile device and the firstbase station is less than a distance between the mobile device and thesecond base station, the distances being calculated based upon ageospatial position of the first and second base stations and acalculation of a geospatial position of the rover based upon only thesignal from the global navigation satellite system.
 27. Themachine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions includeinstructions which when performed by the machine, cause the machine toperform the operations comprising: calculating the geospatial positionbased upon both the first and second correction values.
 28. Themachine-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions includeinstructions which when performed by the machine, cause the machine toperform the operations comprising: calculating the geospatial positionby weighting the first correction value by a first weighting value andthe second correction value by a second weighting value.
 29. Themachine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the correction value is areal time kinematic correction value.
 30. The machine-readable medium ofclaim 21, wherein the instructions include instructions which whenperformed by the machine, cause the machine to perform the operationscomprising: receiving the first and second correction values withoutestablishing a dedicated data connection with the first or second cell.